UNL hosts first Science Slam, SNR's Kelly Willemssens to compete

Kelly Willemssens Science Slam Finalist
Kelly Willemssens Science Slam Finalist

The first Science Slam at UNL will be held in the Colonial room at the City Union on Wednesday March 16th from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm. Free lunch will be provided to competitors and audience members who register via the event web site.

SNR’s Kelly Willemssens is among the five PhD finalists who will compete.
• Tyler Corey, School of Biological Sciences
• Christina Edholm, Dept. of Mathematics
• Soon Kiat Lau, Dept. of Food Science and Technology
• Alice Miller McPhee, Dept. of Sociology
• Kelly Willemssens, School of Natural Resources

For the selection process students were encouraged to send a 90 second video explaining their "Eureka" moment in science. Willemssens’ undergraduate research in Greenland was the topic of her video titled "Why Science is cool: Pollution in Greenland". She said, “I wanted to know what happens to the pollution stored in polar ice caps as the ice melts. My focus was on the lakes and its macro-invertebrates.”

During Science Slam the five finalists will give an 8-10 minute presentation about their research and "Eureka" moment. Competitors can utilize any and all tools, videos, Power Points, even live experiments may be used. Each finalist will receive $50 and swag bags from Adobe with the winner receiving an additional $250.00 prize.

The winner is determined by the audience with the competitors encouraged to invite their family, friends and supporters to cheer them on. Kelly said “Being an international student I don’t have relatives that can attend. Therefore I’m extending the offer to faculty, staff and students here in SNR.”

More details at: http://go.unl.edu/i6as